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BZA approves two frontage variances on State Road 9 to allow three‑lot subdivision; INDOT approval required
Summary
The Board unanimously approved variances reducing required road frontage on two lots (to 63 ft and 30 ft) at 5831 N. State Road 9 to permit a three‑lot minor subdivision; board changed staff conditions to require INDOT driveway approval.
The Hancock County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Feb. 26 to grant two road‑frontage variances for property at 5831 North State Road 9 that will allow the owners to file a three‑lot minor subdivision.
Maria, planning staff, explained the proposal would create three lots served by a shared drive; lot two would be reduced to about 63 feet of road frontage and lot three to about 30 feet, below the 125‑foot minimum for the Residential 1.0 zoning district. Staff recommended approval with conditions including that a minor subdivision plat be recorded within 12 months and that necessary driveway permits and an INDOT approval letter be obtained.
Mike Gibson of Gibson Land Surveying, representing the property owners Robert and Deborah Matsie, said the configuration was intended to allow their daughter to build closer to the family while using a shared driveway and complying with mutual aid and county engineer requests for a 20‑ft gravel drive and turnaround for emergency access. “We have met with the county and the technical committee and laid out a plan that provides shared driveway access and a turnaround,” Gibson said.
A resident, Larry Sedam, urged the board to deny the variances, arguing they could lead to narrow, stacked lots that undermine the 125‑foot frontage standard and the rural character of the area. “I think you’re going to open it up to have a lot of people come stack houses in a really narrow strip,” Sedam said.
Gibson rebutted that similar private‑drive lots have been approved previously and that the shared driveway would aid safety and reduce neglected rear lots. During discussion the board and staff clarified that INDOT, not the county, would need to approve/issue the driveway permit for the expanded access along State Road 9; members revised conditions accordingly.
Motions to approve the variances for lot two (reduce to 63 ft) and lot three (reduce to 30 ft), with the driveway permit condition changed to require INDOT approval prior to issuing building permits, were moved, seconded and approved unanimously (recorded as variance 26‑2657, lots 2 and 3, each passed 3–0). The chair instructed the petitioners to follow up with staff on the platting and permit requirements.
The approvals are conditioned on the revised staff recommendations, INDOT permit/letter, and the filing/recording deadlines required for a minor subdivision.
